New and Notable

Ryerson Students Big Winners at Evolve Competition

RBC and B+H announced the winners of the 2014 Evolve Sustainable Design Competition. Ryerson University students Victor Huynh, Kiwoon Oh, Lydon Whittle, Nikita Yakushev and Kevin Kyung Lee received first prize for their innovative design of a net-zero energy and water-wise sports institute of the future. Their winning design incorporated LED lighting, natural cross ventilation, photovoltaic panels and ground source heat pumps to achieve the highest level of energy performance. The winning team received $5,000 and an opportunity to meet with some of Canada's top architecture professionals at an awards ceremony in Toronto. In addition, a team from Carleton University and another Ryerson University team received first and second runner up prizes and received $3,500 and $1,500, respectively. Each winning team will also receive a matching RBC donation to their university.

What Irritates Canadians?

If the sight of your neighbour watering his lawn while it's raining irks you, you're not alone. Almost 20 per cent of Canadians say this irritates them. That's just one of the things we discovered in the most recent RBC Canadian Water Attitudes Study, an annual poll of 2,000 Canadians that we have undertaken since 2008. From quirky facts to municipal infrastructure issues to last year's flood events in Alberta and Toronto, the 2014 poll covers a wide range of issues. If you're interested in hearing more, we'll share insights in a webinar featuring Bob Sandford, Canadian water expert and Chris Coulter, president of GlobeScan. The one-hour webinar is on Wednesday, April 2 at 11am EST - secure your spot by registering here.

A New Direction in Corporate Responsibility Reporting

It is common for many companies to annually report on environmental, social and governance issues in a Corporate Responsibility (CR) report. RBC's first CR Report was launched in 1999 and over the years grew into a hefty report, topping 118 pages in 2012. From talking to our stakeholders, we know that previous reports provided too much information for most people, so last year we looked at our CR reporting tools with fresh eyes. As a result, our 2013 CR reporting will include: a consumer friendly Global CR Review, a Public Accountability Statement, and a series of backgrounders, issue briefs and other online reporting tools to satisfy a wider range of stakeholders. Read about our 2013 environmental highlights, such as our 227,000 m2 of LEED certified office space, $3.3 billion in socially responsible investments, and $7 million in donations to environmental charities.

What is a Green Bond?

Green Bonds are capital-raising instruments specifically for projects with positive environmental benefits. Proceeds from green bonds are typically used for projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, increase energy efficiency, or expand the use of renewable energy. The market for Green Bonds is growing, with Ontario leading the charge. Premier Kathleen Wynne recently announced the goal to become the first province to issue Green Bonds as a way to finance environmentally friendly projects, such as public transit infrastructure. Last month, RBC Capital Markets announced its first co-lead green bond of 500 million Euros, issued by the European Investment Bank. This is the largest Green Bond in any currency and will be used to finance future projects in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Keeping it Clean in London, England

Waste management often doesn't enjoy a high profile, except when it goes wrong. The Lord Mayor of London recently presented RBC with a Platinum Clean City Award for waste reduction and implementing reuse and recycling initiatives in the Riverbank House building. This year's awards mark RBC's twelfth Clean City Award win. The Clean City Awards program, which has been running since 1994, aims to develop partnerships with London businesses by raising the profile of responsible waste management and recognizing and rewarding good practice by encouraging businesses to 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle'. Riverbank House has achieved an 'Excellent' rating under the BREEAM green building rating system. Some of the building's features include a rooftop solar energy system, a green roof, heat recovery systems and energy sub-metering.

Upcoming Events

"Not Business as Usual" Film Screening"Not Business as Usual" Film Screening
The film, Not Business As Usual, is a provocative look at how capitalism, as envisioned by Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman, has resulted in environmental destruction, human rights abuses and unsustainable business practices. RBC is a sponsor of this event.More event info >

FounderFuel Spring 2014 DemoMay 13, Montreal
FounderFuel is a mentor-driven accelerator that helps early stage web and mobile start-ups raise seed capital. Their Spring Demo brings together veteran entrepreneurs, angel investors, VCs, and senior executives from across North America and connects them with emerging stars from the tech world. RBC is a sponsor of this event.More event info >

2014 Waterkeeper GalaMay 27, Toronto
RBC is a proud sponsor of the third-annual Waterkeeper Gala dinner and art auction. Attendees and sponsors have an opportunity to support swimmable, drinkable, fishable water through donations, sponsorship fees, and bids on a limited number of stunning works of art. More event info >